Foreign body aspiration: what is the outcome?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Medical Imaging
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Undiagnosed foreign body aspiration (FBA) can lead to severe respiratory complications.
• Early detection and intervention are vital for preventing long-term sequelae.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical, radiological, and bronchoscopic findings in children with FBA.
• To assess the impact of foreign body type and time to diagnosis on outcomes.
• To determine the risk of long-term complications following FBA.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 174 children diagnosed with FBA.
• Analysis of clinical symptoms, radiological imaging, and bronchoscopic findings.
• Evaluation of outcomes based on foreign body nature and delay in diagnosis, with long-term follow-up for 110 patients.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in clinical and radiological findings were observed between organic and inorganic FBA.
• Delayed diagnosis (over 30 days) was associated with a 60% complication rate, including bronchiectasis in 25% of cases.
• Prolonged follow-up increased the risk of persistent symptoms and bronchiectasis.

Conclusions:

• Timely diagnosis and bronchoscopic removal of foreign bodies are essential to prevent serious complications.
• Delayed FBA diagnosis significantly elevates the risk of developing bronchiectasis and persistent respiratory symptoms.
• Asthma-like symptoms post-FBA may indicate transient bronchial hyperresponsiveness, requiring appropriate medical management.